What's the scientific explanation for 'ghost encounters'?

Human Behavior Conspiracies & Paranormal What's the scientific explanation for 'ghost encounters'? People all over the world believe they've seen or heard a ghost, but there's no scientific evidence for spirits, hauntings or the paranormal. So what's behind these "encounters"? By Patrick Pester published 19 October 2024 in News When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works . A stock image of a woman watching dancing ghosts. (Image credit: Ralf Nau via Getty Images) Share Copy link Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Share this article Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Chances are, you know someone with a killer ghost story . You might even believe you've encountered a ghost yourself. However, considering there's no scientific evidence that ghosts exist, why do some people think they've seen or heard them? Christopher French , a professor emeritus of psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, recently wrote a book about the science of the paranormal and said ghost sightings are often "sincere misinterpretations of things that do have a natural explanation." "Just because you can't think of an explanation doesn't mean there isn't one," French told Live Science. You may like What are ghost lineages, remnants of the past that still exist in our DNA today? Why do some people still believe that aliens shaped ancient civilizations? AI hallucinations work both ways, study shows — using chatbots can amplify and reinforce our own delusions French is a skeptic who explores non-paranormal explanations for ghostly encounters. These explanations include hallucinations, or perceptions of things that aren't there; false memories , or recollections of events that didn't happen; and pareidolia , or the tendency to see a face or something significant in an inanimate object or random pattern. The human brain is prone to missing things and misremembering events, and it can jump to conclusions when trying to understand an ambiguous experience. This is especially true when a person wants to believe they've seen a ghost or another legendary creature, Live Science previously reported. Related: Are ghosts real? There are also some medical conditions that make perceived ghostly encounters more likely. One area of study for French is a disorder called sleep paralysis , in which people think they've fully woken up but are unable to move, often while sensing an evil presence. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. "It's as if your mind wakes up, but your body doesn't," French said. "You've got this interesting mix of normal waking consciousness and dream consciousness, and the contents of the dream are coming through into waking consciousness. The results can be absolutely terrifying." French noted that if someone gets sleep paralysis without having any prior knowledge of the disorder, then it's not irrational for that person to assume they've had a supernatural experience. However, even during sleep paralysis, when humans are at the mercy of their dreams, the presence people encounter is often a shadowy figure in the corner of the room. A ghostly figure reflected in a pond. (Image credit: David Wall via Getty Images) Movies depict ghosts as full-bodied translucent humans, but these kinds of sightings make up only a small minority of perceived paranormal reports. Johannes Dillinger , a professor of early modern history at Oxford Brookes University in the U.K. is working on understanding the types of ghosts people have believed in over the centuries in Western society and culture. He said that the most commonly reported haunting is an unseen poltergeist. What to read next Impossibly powerful 'ghost particle' that hit Earth may have come from an exploding black hole AI 'mirages' mean tools used to analyze medical scans could fabricate their findings Diagnostic dilemma: A woman heard voices telling her she had a brain tumor ‪—‬ and scans confirmed she did "Many, many ghosts over the centuries were mere poltergeists, meaning they remained invisible throughout," Dillinger told Live Science. "We only think they are there because we hear strange noises, usually at night, that are difficult to explain." Dillinger found that prior to 1800, people believed that ghosts had important unfinished business, but in a much more literal sense than we might think of today. "Ghosts usually wanted people to find their treasures and put them to some good use," Dillinger said. RELATED MYSTERIES — Are there any mythological creatures that haven't been debunked? — Were any 'witches' burned at Salem? — Are